THE LING. 185 



the Down and Antrim coasts in June and July. In October, 1851, a large 

 hake which had been left in shallow water by the receding tide, near 

 the town of Belfast, Avas captured and thrown upon the deck of a lighter. 

 When it was apparently dead a by-stander incautiously took hold of it, 

 when the fish " seized his thumb with such earne.stness, that, in order to 

 release himself, he was obliged to bring away three of its formidable teeth, 

 deeply imbedded in his flesh." 



In Donegal Bay the hake fishery begins in September. 



The few examples of hake critically examined by me at difi'erent times 

 had all the postei-ior portion of the anal and dorsal fins produced so as to 

 form a rounded lobe. (See Yarr. Br. Fish. ii. 261.) 



The Ling, Lota 31ulva, Cuv., 



Is found around the coast. 



In the North they are generally taken with conger-eels, the two spe- 

 cies being sought for together. The largest native specimens of which 

 I have a record weighed 59 lbs. and was captured near Carrickfergus. 



In Belfast market I have seen examples 4 feet long. Mr. Wm. 

 Darragh caught one which measured 5 feet in length in Belfast Bay, 

 not far from the town, and he describes it as having evinced great fero- 

 city Avhen brought into the boat. The bait used was the flesh of a 

 flounder. On one occasion I found a dab [Platessa Liinanda) in the 

 mouth of a ling in Belfast market. 



"At Roundstone (County Galway) this fish is taken in quantity, 15 to 20 

 dozen being caught in a day on a long line. Fishermen whose chief object is 

 ling-fishing generally remain out from home for a week, but come in evei-y night 

 to a harbour in Boffin Islands. One boat with six men, if plenty of herrings 

 are to be had for bail, will take each man with a spilliard bU or 70 dozen of 

 cod, ling, and haddock in one day." * 



The ling is a prettily-coloured species in a young state. A description 

 of a small example may be worth a place here, especially as Mr. Yarrell 

 had not a specimen of the ling to describe from. 



A specimen obtained in Belfast market, January I2th, 1838, was as 

 follows : — • 



Total length IH inches. 



D. 14—65 ; A. 60 ; P. 19 ; C. about 40 ; V. 6. Upper jaw the longer. 

 Teeth numerous, small and rasp-like in upper jaw, a single row of much 

 larger teeth in lower jaw, in which they are few in number, the largest 

 teeth on palatine bone, throughout which a row extends. Barbule on 

 lower jaw 8 lines long or nearly ^rd the length of head. Posterior 

 part of 2nd D. rather the most elevated part. A. pretty equal in height 

 throughout. Lateral line for ^rd from above operculum extending in a 

 straight line down to centre of body, thence to C. fin straight. Jenyns 

 says merely straight, which is not strictly correct. Colour of back and 

 sides yellowish olive, handsomely broken and divided throughout into 

 patterns by lines of pale lilac. 



The 1st D. similarly coloured with a narrow margin of white, just with- 

 in which, at its transverse termination, is a very conspicuous large black 

 spot. 



The 2nd D. fin similarly coloured to near the margin, within which a 

 line of pale yellowish brown extends, the margin itself exhibiting a nar- 

 row line of white ; just Mithin the white margin, rising at a right angle 



* Mr. Nimmo. 



